Description

You already know that the '57 Chevy is one of the most popular collector cars of all time, but I guarantee that you haven't seen one this nice at your local shows. This '57 Bel Air is quite possibly the nicest we've featured, and we've sold hundreds of them. The bodywork is pure 1957 Chevy with no additions or deletions, no modifications, and nothing to detract from the car that everybody loves. Larkspur Blue comes from the original color charts, too, so it has a very authentic 1950s look and there's probably nobody in the western world who doesn't recognize it instantly. But when you get close to this one, the quality becomes quite readily apparent. The paint is deep, smooth, and glossy beyond what you get from the local body shop, this is professional-grade art. The steel bodywork underneath is probably nicer than it was new, with even the smallest flaws carefully erased. And those gaps around the doors are even enough to pass the Lexus ball bearing test with ease. The chrome was restored to show condition and the stainless was polished or replaced with exact replicas. Now it may seem like we're going on and on about the details, but the fact is, I'm not sure how you could make a car nicer than this. There are a few signs of use, but there's no question that the quality of the build was off-the-charts impressive, especially considering it was purchased in pieces and put back together.At a glance, the Harbor Blue interior appears to be nicely restored to pretty much stock condition, and that's largely true. The upholstery on the seats replicates the original cloth and vinyl in both materials and patterns, and it has a very cool period look, no doubt about that. But again, it's the details that get you. Check out the trick steering wheel that looks like the original but is smaller, fatter, and has a leather wrapper. It also makes for a nice transition into the under-dash Vintage A/C system that's so subtly integrated that you hardly notice it's there. The gauges are neat Classic Instruments white-faced dials that fit into the original housings but provide a lot more information (there's even a tach!), and the original radio remains in the dash for a factory look. All the glass is in great shape, too, and the trunk is very neatly finished with a rubber mat, and you can see how carefully built it is with the rear-mounted battery and Shockwaves Air Ride suspension controls tucked up on the shelf.The engine is a crate 350 cubic inch Chevy V8 Ram-Jet fuel injection, providing modern reliability with an old-school look. Finned valve covers add to that familiar high-performance look, and you have to admit that the look is quintessential Chevrolet. A billet serpentine drive system enhances efficiency and looks great, especially with the cleverly hidden HVAC lines tucked into the front fender. All the lines and hoses are braided stainless and the big PRC aluminum radiator up front has a cool custom cradle. It's backed by a rugged 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission and an upgraded Master Power 9" posi rear end, all of which have been detailed like original. The suspension features Heidts custom A-arms and airbags up front and air shocks in back, and there's a disc brake at all four corners. 18-inch Billet Specialties wheels have a slick look and wear grippy performance rubber.There's just not enough space to cover all the goodies on this amazing Bel Air. But you can rest assured that we are highly impressed by this car, and after seeing hundreds of them, that's not easy to do. Call today!